Central City takes down undefeated Holdrege, 38-32.

Central City QB Mitch Carlson (#15), one of the state's best quarterbacks.

Central City takes down undefeated Holdrege, 38-32.

by Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

For the second straight week, the Central City Bison kept their fans on the very edge of their seats. This time, Coach Troy Hubert's forces had to follow the opposite route they took a week ago in a furious come from behind win over Kearney Catholic. Tonight, the unbeaten 6-0 Holdrege Dusters assumed that role, but the resilient Bison defense dug in deep when it mattered, and Central City held on for a another signature win, 38-32.

All-State Quarterback Mitch Carlson, his offensive line, and his outstanding receiving corps, made it look easy in the first half, sprinting to a 24-3 lead when the 2nd quarter ended. Meanwhile, the Bison defense stopped 1000 yard rusher and :10.6 sprinter Cooper Rogers in his tracks, limiting the star runner to 13 yards in as many carries in that opening half. But I'm speculating a stern scolding from the Holdrege line coach may have been heard all the way back to Phelps County by the way the Duster O-Line came out blocking in the 3rd quarter.

I can guarantee you the next time I watch this Central City football team I'll bring more stat sheets.

A picture perfect weather evening gave the Central City football faithful a great setting for homecoming and the first half was just what the doctor ordered for the 10th rated Bison. You just knew it was going to be one of those nights when QB Mitch Carlson went for it all on the 1st play from scrimmage, targeting his All-State wide-receiver Brady Bamesberger. The opening bomb was incomplete, but there weren't very many of those to follow for the Central City gunslinger.

Holdrege actually opened the scoring in this game on their opening drive when big 6-2, 230 pound lineman Blake Schroeder connected on a 26 yard field goal with 6:44 left in the 1st. But the only Duster lead of the night would only last 14 seconds. On the ensuing kick-off, the Bison deep man took the ball on the 4 yard line and set sail down the Holdrege sideline. Shortly before crossing midfield, he took a vicious hit, the ball popped loose, and almost like a phantom in the night, Brady Bamesberger plucked the ball out of thin air and took it the rest of the way for what ended up being a 96 yard kick return.

All of a sudden, Central City was on top, 6-3 with 6:30 left in the opening stanza. Taylor Beck tacked on a 5 yard TD run before the quarter came to a close and Central City had a 12-3 lead after one.

While the Bison defense was stuffing Rogers and junior Vince Ohlman was pirating two Caden Fritson aerials, Mitch Carlson was beginning to pick the Duster defense apart with his short passes. Carlson nailed 185 pound junior Will Wagner with a bullet crossing pattern strike, good for a 22 yard TD, then found his All-State partner Brady Bamesberger for 9 yard scoring pass following Ohlman's 2nd interception. The Carlson to Bamesberger touchdown pass came with only 42 seconds left before halftime, giving the Bison a commanding 24-3 lead at the break.

It took Holdrege only 2:19 seconds into the 3rd quarter to let Central City know their offensive line would now be opening the holes that were absent in the first half for Cooper Rogers. On a 3rd and 3 from their own 46, Fritson fed the ball to the sizzling sprinter, and 54 yards later, Rogers had his first touchdown of the night. Fritson rose up to toss a soft jump pass to Jaron Anderson for the double PAT and it was 24-11 just like that.

The Bison would answer right back after a face mask penalty on the kickoff put them in great field position at the Duster 46 yard line. A few plays later, Carlson again rifled that same lightning quick bullet crossing pattern throw to Vince Ohlman, good for a 17 yard TD. Central City was back in command 31-11 with 6:48 left in the 3rd.

Breathe a little easier for the Bison fans? Maybe for a meager 13 seconds anyway.

That's the time it took for Brady Bamesberger to sail the following kickoff into the end zone and give that Holdrege offensive line another shot. 1st and 10 on the Duster 20, Fritson gives the handoff to Cooper Rogers, who is temporarily halted in the backfield, then it's off the the races 80 yards for another long distance touchdown. Two carries....134 yards for the hard hitting Holdrege senior. Now it's 31-18 Central City.

Things really got interesting when Carlson had a pass picked off by Quentin Harden on the following possession, but the Bison defense held. Holdrege then buried Central City deep in their own territory with a Blake Schroeder rocket-style punt.

Before the Dusters could even take a breath, Mitch Carlson repeated his game opening go-for-it-all pass, only this time to WR Kordell Hamer. The fleet Hamer, who sat out much of the Kearney Catholic game with an injury, ran under the perfect aerial and turned on the jets for a sparkling 87 yard touchdown reception. Bamesberger booted the point after through and Central City owned a 38-18 advantage entering the 4th quarter.

The 8th ranked Dusters (C-1) were not ready give up though, and Head Coach Jason Hale started opening his bag of tricks. A double reverse to Jackson Berney moved the Dusters deep into Bison territory. With a first and goal on the 7 yard line, Cooper Rogers took a handoff, blasted into the line and literally dragged half of the Central City defense into the end zone for a TD. Now Holdrege was back into contention, 38-25 with 7:18 left in the game.

Following a 3 and out for Central City, the next showtime trick slipped out of the Duster bag and saw QB Caden Fritson flare a backwards pass back to Cooper Rogers who then pulled up and fired a 46 yard touchdown pass to a streaking Jackson Berney. The 6-3, 175 pound junior then made an absolutely astounding highlight reel catch for the score.

Scoreboard then says......Central City 38-32 Holdrege....3:20 remaining, 4th Quarter.

The Dusters were forced to take their final timeout on the next Bison possession after tough running Taylor Beck broke a 6 yard gain on a 1st and 10 play. Central City would eventually run out the clock after a couple of spirited blasts into the Holdrege line by 205 pound Brad Schoch. Ballgame is history.

Central City took a huge step toward the Class C-1, District 6 title with the 38-32 win over Holdrege. The Bison are undefeated in district play with games remaining with winless Minden and St. Paul, who notched their first win tonight over that Minden team. Meanwhile, Holdrege has to meet dangerous Kearney Catholic in their regular season finale, so it looks like the Bison are in the driver's seat right now.

For Central City, it was another banner passing night for senior Mitch Carlson. The deadly accurate quarterback connected on 28 of his 38 throws for 268 yards and 4 TDs with only 1 interception. Wide receiver Kordell Hamer led all receivers with 9 catches for 113 yards and a TD. Bamesberger followed with 5 receptions for 45 yards and a score, and RB Taylor Beck added 6 catches for 40 yards and a touchdown as well. Hard running Brad Schoch led the Bison ground game with 47 yards on 12 touches.

As for Holdrege........so much for the old belief that most outstanding track sprinters shy away from contact on the football field. Cooper Rogers absolutely destroys that theory. The powerful running back exploded for game high 210 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns and nearly every single one of his carries were right smack dab into the heart of the Central City defensive line.....a good defensive line too.

Duster quarterback Caden Fritson was good on 17 of his 32 passes for 173 yards but suffered 2 interceptions, both by Vince Ohlman. The only TD pass for Holdrege was by Rogers on that pretty 46 yarder to Jackson Berney, who has hands like glue and hops that are something to behold.

On defense, Ohlman obviously stood out for Central City, as well as 230 pound junior, Jordan Paup, who simply gets better and better with every game.

.........................1.......2.......3.......4.........F

Holdrege............3.......0.......15.....14.......32

Central City.......12......12......14......0........38

1st QTR

Hol.......Blake Schroeder 26 FG...................................................0-3

CC........Bamesberger 96 KR.......(pass Failed)......................................6-3

CC........Beck 5 Run...................(kick failed).......................................12-3

2nd QTR

CC......Will Wagner 22 pass from Mitch Carlson (kick failed)...............18-3

CC......Bamesberger 9 pass from Carson (pass failed).......................24-3

3rd QTR.

Hol......Cooper Rogers 54 Run (Fritson to J. Anderson)......................24-11

CC.......Vincent Ohlman 17 pass from Carlson (Bamesberger kick....31-11

Hol.......Rogers 80 Run (Cole Fiene kick)...............................................31-18

CC.......Kordell Hamer 87 pass from Carlson (Bamesberger kick)......38-18

4th QTR.

Hol.......Rogers 7 Run (Fiene kick)............................................................38-25

Hol.......Jackson Berney 46 pass from Rogers (Fiene kick)...................38-32